Smyrna times., 1887-09-28
For the Smyrna Times
Letter from A. P. Griffith.
" THE LAND OF THE sKY.n

THE LAND OF THE SKY"
Mr. Edjt0r:-We reached AsbeviIIa
n. g., after a ride of 26 hours reeIinG
very tired, as would he natural in on97
weak physical condition. The iournev
was one of no special interest So far as
sightseeing was concerned. We saw
plenty OF poor waste land with scruh
lumber OF several kinds, but when we
reached Round Knob Hotel and
station which is at the foot of "Ronnd
Knob Mountain" and is the entrance
gaze 10 the the mountain city of Ashe-
Elile, then the beauty and grandeur of
lnese mountains begin, and there is no
Abatement OF interest the rest of the
way tor with an engine for each ear
we hegln to climb the mountains.
AS we ascend We look up to hiob
cIill and notice the railroad is uerrhe5
up therei on we 20, leaving our start
ing point on our right, then suddenly
we see it on our left and we seem 70
almost come back to it again. VII IN loI
IL Is IN front of us, when behold We ara
up on that high clill looking down IN
! all that we have left: we find the r,iI-
roa" IS sun quilt higher up. and as we
cross TINS dehiC and shoot out that deem
! gorge, anu run up other numerous
leGges, going through five or six TIM
hels, making q distance of five mills
/ we ind that we have assembled t,val,.
| hundred feet, and the traveller is 6Iiod
win amazement at the wonder and
suOlimity of nature and also filled With
I'ul'IaV'on Tor the skill displayed in
me pan OF ascent by the surveying en-
glheer Inc whistle blows, the bell
Lihss' anu we are at our destination
AsheVllle, which IS a beautiful citv Of
ABOUT eight thousand inhabitants To-
Gated IN western North Carolina. with
me Blue Ridge on the east and The
AIeghanles on the west, i'm that nic-
turesque valley Tor heart of the noun
talns! called the French BROAD -
when takes its name from the river
that placidlv flows at the feet of these
mountains. The approach TO Asbe-
Vlile Is one Of romantic scenery and IL
surrounding is panorama Of encbant-
ing views formed by the majestic beauty
ana FooBbOund heights Of the Grand
Ola Mountains, As they point Heaven
ward, like silent sentinels tellinw n,
tlat The Heavens declare His oIorv
ana the Firmament showing his b,nii. /
work Asheville is situated in The
neafC oil TINS lovely valley and is beam I
IlIuI Tor situation, and has all the evi.
Hehces OF wealth and enterprise. beiny
Ooth summer and winter resort for
me pleasure seeker and invalid. If
aoounds IN first class hotels and good
boarding houses. All denominations
OF christians have places of worshin
and schools are abundant and we'll
equipped. The town is lighted bv
electric lights, the streets are macai-
amized, and pure water is furnished b,,
a complete system of water works
Inc people are hospitable and courte-
GUS and a stranger soon feels at home
among them.
CLIMATE.
On account of the number of cleor
DAYS IN the year and the beautiful
blending of the azure skies with the
mountain sides, this valley has been
POLITICALLY called 1.-THE Land of the
SKY" and the claim is made for il from
being vale, with the high walls of the
mountains completely surrounding IT,
The climatic changes are less severe I
IMAM where there are no mountain
guards to protect them, and the alti-
tude being over 20O0 feet above sen |
level, the air is invigorating and even
electrical all the year round. and if is
claimed that the virtues hid awav in
the earth impart to the waters mineral =,
that give bloom TO the y
cheek, lustre to the eye, and the tom "
city of the atmosphere which Won "
breathe in so deep and full from the
natural crucible, gives strength to the
AIDED nerves, starts up the languid
PULSE, and vigOr and health comes
back to the wasted body.
It's claimed by some writer about this "
egion that here the Goddess OF HEALTH &c
las her permanent home, and III. in. X
aid suffering from lung affections The
Iispeptic, the nervous and dabilitnted cl
nd those suffering from malaria viii
ere find that relief in the ..anitarinn, -
hat nature has provided which tbe,, r
ave sought elsewhere, but failed 70
eallze. AS winter resort its advan. AT
lnges are derived from its southern
lcatlOn, ana the essential ADVANTAGE :
us summer GOODNESS is in the fact Of
S being ola greater altitude than most
lmmer resorts. '--O''
Inc mean average temperature of ~
sheville for several years past is: "a
pring, $50; Summer, 720; Autnmn
? Winter 3S' or for the year. 55o
ne rainfall averages Al inches nar
ear The air is consequently drv and
Vigorating, with no oppressive heat NJ
1d always cool nights. No wonder
lie invalid feels better soon after reach.
g here, and continues to improve as N,
Ie days go by. Unlike the Gnif
cast; we do not have to be acclima.
zed here, but from the FIRST we feel -
e effects Of the natural invigorator
I'd as result a more robust c9nstitn'
% Is developed while on the Gnif TU
'alsC the heat is so great that it ener. /
ties instead of invigorates. The a
mate at Asheville seems to be a IA.
raole medium between the intense
ia ana the extreme heat, and is there. Bol
e the attractive place for the Meas N
seeker and the invalid who is seel. sS y
to restore impaired vitality. ' ~